Jayceelyn J.

Santos BSA 1-8 Cycle 2

Module 3

ASSESSMENTS

Task 1

Instructions:

1. Make clippings of news reports and magazine articles on how air pollution and water

pollution can drastically affect people’s health and the environment.

2. Discuss your findings with family members to get additional input from them. Be ready

to prepare a written report on this.

Air and water pollution are global environmental issues that have an impact on the quality of our
water bodies as well as human health. Several research studies consider water and air pollution to be
the most serious threats to our planet. Because of the ongoing causes and sources of these major issues,
it has a significant impact on human health and the environment all over the world.

Air pollution is the release of pollutants into the atmosphere that are harmful to human health and
the environment as a whole. Air pollution is made up of small particles that can be either natural or
man-made. Air pollution can have an impact on people both inside and outside. Outdoor air pollution is
made up of particles from coal and gas combustion, harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur
dioxide, tobacco smoke, and ground-level ozone. Household chemicals, harmful gases such as carbon
monoxide or radon, building materials such as lead or asbestos, pollen, mold, and tobacco smoke all
contribute to indoor air pollution. Short-term and long-term exposure can both cause health problems,
according to (Sissons, 2020). Furthermore, air pollution harms the environment. The negative effects of
air pollution on the environment can be extensive and significant, and they are the cause of many
unusual environmental phenomena. Acid rain, eutrophication, and climate change are some of its major
effects. Acid rain is caused by pure water, i.e. distilled water, which has a pH of 7, whereas rainfall water
has a pH between 5 and 5.5, making it slightly acidic. When rainwater mixes with air pollutants like sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, it becomes much more acidic. Rain with a pH of 4 is considered acid rain
because its acidity is ten times that of pH 5. Acid rain is extremely damaging to natural ecosystems.
Eutrophication occurs when a body of water becomes enriched with minerals and nutrients, which can
lead to excessive algae growth. Algae not only prevents sunlight from reaching underwater plants, which
is required for photosynthesis, but it also consumes a large amount of oxygen in the water. As a result,
aquatic plants and animals may perish due to a lack of nutrients in the water. Meanwhile, the
relationship between air pollution and climate change is complicated because air pollutants are generally
distinguished from greenhouse gases in terms of their effects, even though they are produced from
similar sources and through similar human activities.

Furthermore, water pollution harms our water bodies, endangering aquatic ecosystems and human
health. Its causes may include industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, sewage and wastewater, and oil
spills, according to (Kumar, 2023). Water pollution depletes oxygen levels, destroys habitats, and reduces
biodiversity, upsetting the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems. This, in turn, has an impact on fish
populations and other aquatic organisms, ultimately leading to ecosystem collapse. Water is a necessity
for all life on Earth. Pollution can contaminate a water source, causing health problems in humans such
as cancer or cardiovascular disease. Waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis are
also common effects of contaminated water. Additionally, long-term exposure to polluted water can lead
to various health problems, including cancer, developmental disorders, and reproductive issues.
 To summarize, air and water pollution are wreaking destruction on our environment and health. Its
causes can be derived from a variety of sources, which can be created by humans or occur naturally.
Nonetheless, people must be aware of and educated on ways to prevent or mitigate the effects of
pollution. This is a serious global environmental and human health issue that people ought to constantly
keep an eye on.

Task 2

Instructions:

1. Document any kind of improper waste disposal. Take pictures of or videotape the

wrong practice as evidence.

2. List down ways of applying solid waste management as solution to these improper

ways.

Improper waste disposal is such a harmful act that people should be aware of. Applying solid waste
management is crucial and the three considered main ways of it include segregating, composting, and
recycling.

 Segregating
- It is the separation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable garbage. A biodegradable
material can be decomposed by bacteria or other natural organisms without adding to
pollution. Non-biodegradable material, on the other hand, is a type of substance that
cannot be broken down by natural organisms and is a source of pollution. Food waste,
yard waste, wet tissue, and wet paper are examples of biodegradable waste; whereas,
non-biodegradable waste can be classified as recyclable residual and hazardous;
recyclable waste includes white paper (bond, paper, notebook sheets), cardboard/
carton (corrugated boxes, folders), newspaper/ magazines (tin cans, aluminum cans,
aluminum foils, wires), glass (bottles, broken ceramics), PET bottles (drinking water
bottles). Styrofoam (styro cups, electronic fillers), plastic composite and wrappers (candy
and junk food wrappers, shrinking straws, paper plate with foil), disposable utensils
(single-use plastic spoons, forks, disposable cups), rubber other: clothes, shoes, slippers,
 yarn. Finally, hazardous waste includes broken lamps, batteries, CDs, spray canisters,
paint cans, and other items. Proper separation of these waste materials can assist us in
properly disposing of our waste, reducing the impact on pollution, which is a major
concern for people's health and the environment.

 Composting
- It is a process in which biodegradable waste is placed in a specific tank or hole for a set
period to decompose with the help of decomposers such as yeasts, worms, and molds.
The decomposed waste can now be used as plant fertilizer after decomposition.
Composting may involve several steps, including chopping the biodegradable waste into
smaller portions, mixing the waste and placing it in the composters, sprinkling a small
amount of water, sprinkling or layer with soil to discourage flies and control
odors, placing the soil in between the layers of the mixture, turning it once or twice a
month to provide the necessary oxygen to hasten the composting process, and
composting is complete when the interior of the pile is no longer hot and the material
has broken down into dark and dry soil.

 Recycling
- It is the collection and processing of materials that would otherwise be discarded as
trash in order to create new products. It is regarded as the most beneficial and useful
method of waste management because, instead of throwing away non-biodegradable
waste, we can transform it into a new useful item. Plastic bottles, aluminum cans,
cardboard, boxes, glass, papers, batteries, tires, and other plastic materials are examples
of common recyclable materials. This method of waste management is extremely
beneficial to the preservation of our resources, energy savings, environmental security,
and reducing landfill content, and can also be a source of income in the community.

Task 3

Instructions:

1. Observe your home environment.

2. List down good ways manifested in your home aligned with reducing greenhouse

emissions.

After observing my home environment, the good ways manifested in my home aligned with reducing
greenhouse emissions are:

 Changing our incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

 Turning off lights in the house when not in use.
 Letting natural sunlight enter our home by opening windows.
 Using house appliances that don’t eat up too much energy.
 Using solar panels for some of our lights.
 Reducing household waste that might be put in landfills contributing to greenhouse
emissions.
 Using recyclable products as some of our house decorations are recycled materials.

These are the good ways I observed our household practices which all can contribute to lessening
greenhouse emissions in our community.